Question

A sample of sodium reacts completely with 0.497 kg of chlorine, forming 819 g of sodium chloride. what mass of sodium reacted?

Answer 1

Sodium reacts to chlorine and gives NaCl. The balanced reaction is given below:

2Na + Cl₂→ 2NaCl. Two moles Na reacts with one mole Cl₂ and produces two moles of NaCl. Atomic mass of Na= 23, Molar mass of Cl₂= 71, molar mass of NaCl=58.5.

So, 46 g Na reacts with 71 g of Cl₂ and produces (2 X 58.5)g = 117 g of NaCl. As per question Na reacts completely which means Na is the limiting reagent. So, number of moles of Na reacts = number moles of NaCl produced.

NaCl produced= 819 g= (819/58.5) moles= 15.69 moles. Therefore, 15.69 moles = 15.69 X 23 g=360.87 g of Na reacted.